Timeline revealed for Sheffield Wednesday takeover offers - 10 serious candidates emerge | OneFootball

Sheffield Wednesday's administrators are seeking a new owner for the club

The first offers to purchase Sheffield Wednesday could arrive by the end of this week amid interest from the likes of Mike Ashley.

According to the iNews, there are at least 10 serious bidders looking to purchase the Championship side after they went into administration last month.

Current owner Dejphon Chansiri oversaw the mismanagement of the Yorkshire outfit’s finances in recent years, which led to the appointment of Begbies Traynor as administrators.

Begbies Traynor will now be seeking a deal that best suits the club’s creditors, as they look to pay off debts such as a reported £1 million tax bill due to HMRC.

Sheffield Wednesday have suffered on the pitch due to these off-field issues, with a 12 point deduction penalty automatically applied after going into administration.

Sheffield Wednesday takeover latest

Sheffield Wednesday are reportedly garnering the interest of several parties after going into administration.

It’s not yet been made clear whether Ashley is a front-runner due to the high number of potential bidders with the finances to take over the Championship side.

Administrator Kris Wigfield has claimed that there have been up to 30 or 40 enquiries over a possible takeover, with offers expected within the next few days.

He believes that their popularity among supporters is due to the toxic relationship they had with Chansiri, and that they’re keenly aware that this cannot be allowed to drag on.

“It’s strange to come into a business as administrators and be popular but it probably helps us the relationship that fans had with the former owner,” said Wigfield, via the iNews.

“At the moment we’re popular but obviously if we don’t find a buyer quickly, football fans are quite fickle so we’re very conscious of the fact we need to sell it as soon as we can to a good buyer.

“So far we’re absolutely delighted with the interest we’ve had.

“We’re pleased with the list of contenders that we have got.

“Time will tell in the next week or so whether that interest results in offers but I’m sure it will.

“We have probably had at least 30 or 40 enquiries that we think are serious.

“We will have at least double figures that will have proof of funding or we don’t have to ask for proof of funding because it’s just obvious from who they are that they’ve got that money.”

It has been reported that Ashley is preparing an offer worth up to £10 million for the Owls, with the former Newcastle United owner seeking a swift deal to purchase the club.

It’s believed that Begbies Traynor are seeking the proof of access to £50 million in funds in order to be considered as a potential buyer.

Sheffield Wednesday are currently bottom of the Championship table, with Henrik Pedersen’s side 17 points adrift of safety.

Light at the end of the tunnel for Sheffield Wednesday

Begbies Traynor have to do their due diligence in a situation like this, so it will take some amount of time before they can agree a sale with someone.

But the level of interest being shown in the Championship side is very healthy, and supporters should be encouraged that a new dawn is breaking at Hillsborough.

It remains unclear who will take over the Owls, but any prospective owner should be an upgrade on Chansiri, who was putting the future of the club at risk with his mismanagement of their finances.

It could be 2026 before a takeover is completely ratified, but the wait until then should be more than worthwhile if it means bringing some stability to Sheffield Wednesday again.